As per Mike "Doc" Garr of the UPCA, please take a visit out to the following site for a new film project in the works...

Dear Lou,

Please forward to your membership:

Dan
Croomer from the Kansas City Pipe Club recently had a post on the UPCA
website about a documentary being made called "Father of the Flame." The
trailer for the film is located here: http://dapperism.com/father-the-flame-documentary-preview/.
It looks nicely done, but as the trailer states, it is an unfinished
project. But you can help. See the trailer and find out how!

Do you happen to know club member, Jon Guss? Well did you also know he is one helluva researcher and author?

6/15/2013 UPDATE!!! I am proud to ask you to please be sure to check out Jon’s newest masterfully researched and written, How Many Angels? Another Look at the Barling Transition, where Jon sheds new light on the storied brand, particularly the "Transition" period. Please fine it here, courtesy of Neill Archer Roan's, A Passion For Pipes blog:

I am proud to ask you to please be sure to check out Jon’s masterfully researched and written, The History ofSobranie and its Pipe Tobacco Blends complete with a priceless, Appendix: Dating of Sobranie Tobacco Tins, which comes to all of us courtesy of Neill Archer Roan’s, A Passion For Pipes blog. Jon has collaborated with Neill on what Neill is calling the Vintages Project, an ongoing feature which will serve as a home for scholarship dedicated to research into the pioneers of classic pipes and vintage pipe tobaccos. This is a must read for all and especially for lovers of those fabled blends and the folk-lore that has surrounded them. Jon’s compendium can be found here:http://www.apassionforpipes.com/vintages-project/

Many of you are familiar with Neill Archer Roan and his popular and exceptionally written blog, Passion For Pipes. Please take a moment to read this timely blog submission regarding the ever increasing erosion of our right to smoke our pipes and how you can take a stand against it and make your voice heard. As our past president Mr. Vernon Vig has said, "We need to band together for strength in order to survive in an increasingly unfriendly atmosphere for pipe smokers" and now you can. See Neill's message below and click on the link to be taken to the article.

As per Neill,

"Today's blog post concerns the increasing threat to our ability to smoke our pipes. I don't think we can afford to sit on the sidelines and hope that our elected officials will do the right thing. Clearly, that strategy has produced nothing worthwhile to date.

Please consider taking action. Don't assume others will do what you should do.

Thanks for your consideration. I send you my best wishes for a Happy New Year.

Best,

Neill"

I strongly urge you to join me in standing up for our rights as pipe smokers. Read Neill's blog and decide for yourself. Let us stand up for ourselves against this irrational wave and let our voices be heard!

Todd Platek just got back form the 2009 Chicago Pipe Show with a lot to say, as always. This was his first Chicago show -